Are religions harmful or helpful?

[Compassionist]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

[Menotu]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

I think (would like to hope, that is) that most all religions were started for a positive end result. But like most everything people have contact with, they've (a lot of times) been twisted to feed the control freaks, power hungry, greedy and those whose lives are so perfect that it becomes their job to tell others how to live their lives and how wrong they are.
History has shown religions can create beautiful things (art, caring people, etc). But it seems those things are, any more, the exception and not the rule.
To be fair, most anything can be harmful if it's used incorrectly.
But with religions (that claim to have someone/thing more powerful in charge) I expect more.
Sadly, my expectations are, more times than not, not met

[Compassionist]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

I think (would like to hope, that is) that most all religions were started for a positive end result. But like most everything people have contact with, they've (a lot of times) been twisted to feed the control freaks, power hungry, greedy and those whose lives are so perfect that it becomes their job to tell others how to live their lives and how wrong they are.
History has shown religions can create beautiful things (art, caring people, etc). But it seems those things are, any more, the exception and not the rule.
To be fair, most anything can be harmful if it's used incorrectly.
But with religions (that claim to have someone/thing more powerful in charge) I expect more.
Sadly, my expectations are, more times than not, not met

We exist in a world which does not care about us or ethics. Here, the rule is "Might is right, adapt or die." That is why powerful humans can kill millions of other humans and trillions of other sentient organisms and get away with it. That is why cyclones and earthquakes and tsunamis and floods and droughts and diseases kill millions and get away with it. We live in a world where the evil often prosper and the innocent often perish.

[Menotu]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

I think (would like to hope, that is) that most all religions were started for a positive end result. But like most everything people have contact with, they've (a lot of times) been twisted to feed the control freaks, power hungry, greedy and those whose lives are so perfect that it becomes their job to tell others how to live their lives and how wrong they are.
History has shown religions can create beautiful things (art, caring people, etc). But it seems those things are, any more, the exception and not the rule.
To be fair, most anything can be harmful if it's used incorrectly.
But with religions (that claim to have someone/thing more powerful in charge) I expect more.
Sadly, my expectations are, more times than not, not met

We exist in a world which does not care about us or ethics. Here, the rule is "Might is right, adapt or die." That is why powerful humans can kill millions of other humans and trillions of other sentient organisms and get away with it. That is why cyclones and earthquakes and tsunamis and floods and droughts and diseases kill millions and get away with it. We live in a world where the evil often prosper and the innocent often perish.

Cyclones, tsunamis, etc 'get away with it' because they're not people and this can't be held accountable, nor are they 'evil'. They simply are.
"Adapt or doe" seems rough for people, but in the natural world, that's how it works. It's not good or bad. It just is.
But overall, people do su*k and do terrible things to other living things for no good reason. Unfortunately, that seems human nature. We almost have to fight to prevent ourselves from falling in to those more 'basic' levels of living.

[Compassionist]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

I think (would like to hope, that is) that most all religions were started for a positive end result. But like most everything people have contact with, they've (a lot of times) been twisted to feed the control freaks, power hungry, greedy and those whose lives are so perfect that it becomes their job to tell others how to live their lives and how wrong they are.
History has shown religions can create beautiful things (art, caring people, etc). But it seems those things are, any more, the exception and not the rule.
To be fair, most anything can be harmful if it's used incorrectly.
But with religions (that claim to have someone/thing more powerful in charge) I expect more.
Sadly, my expectations are, more times than not, not met

We exist in a world which does not care about us or ethics. Here, the rule is "Might is right, adapt or die." That is why powerful humans can kill millions of other humans and trillions of other sentient organisms and get away with it. That is why cyclones and earthquakes and tsunamis and floods and droughts and diseases kill millions and get away with it. We live in a world where the evil often prosper and the innocent often perish.

Cyclones, tsunamis, etc 'get away with it' because they're not people and this can't be held accountable, nor are they 'evil'. They simply are.
"Adapt or doe" seems rough for people, but in the natural world, that's how it works. It's not good or bad. It just is.
But overall, people do su*k and do terrible things to other living things for no good reason. Unfortunately, that seems human nature. We almost have to fight to prevent ourselves from falling in to those more 'basic' levels of living.

I want to hold everyone and everything accountable e.g. viruses, earthquakes, cyclones, bacteria, fungi, cows, lions, humans, gorillas, trees, atoms, photons, quarks, gods (if they exist), etc. No one and nothing should get away with doing any harm to anyone and anything. There must be perfect fairness to existence. At least, that's what I want. I won't get such a fair world because I am not all-knowing and all-powerful. I expect to suffer and die - just like all the other sentient biological organisms. We are all doomed. Only three things are guaranteed for sentient biological organisms - suffering, unfairness and death.

[Bust Nak]

Your poll does not match your topic title, by the way. They are very different questions.

[Compassionist]

Your poll does not match your topic title, by the way. They are very different questions.

You are right. It is not letting me correct the poll question, may be an admin can correct it. Thank you.

[Purple Knight]

I voted helpful. They're helpful to the people who hold them and harmful to the people who do not.

Basically they're like swords.

[Menotu]

Please see: https://religions.wiki/index.php/Religi ... to_society I think that not all religions are equal. For example, Jainism is a very nice religion. Jains are the most peaceful group of people I have ever met.

So, I think some religions such as Jainism is helpful while others are harmful. What do you think? Is Christianity helpful or harmful? If we examine the conducts of all Christians across the last 2000 years, we find that some were extremely harmful while others were very helpful. The Bible itself is full of contradictions, cruelties and injustices. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com and http://skepticsannotatedbible.com Thank you.

I think (would like to hope, that is) that most all religions were started for a positive end result. But like most everything people have contact with, they've (a lot of times) been twisted to feed the control freaks, power hungry, greedy and those whose lives are so perfect that it becomes their job to tell others how to live their lives and how wrong they are.
History has shown religions can create beautiful things (art, caring people, etc). But it seems those things are, any more, the exception and not the rule.
To be fair, most anything can be harmful if it's used incorrectly.
But with religions (that claim to have someone/thing more powerful in charge) I expect more.
Sadly, my expectations are, more times than not, not met

We exist in a world which does not care about us or ethics. Here, the rule is "Might is right, adapt or die." That is why powerful humans can kill millions of other humans and trillions of other sentient organisms and get away with it. That is why cyclones and earthquakes and tsunamis and floods and droughts and diseases kill millions and get away with it. We live in a world where the evil often prosper and the innocent often perish.

Cyclones, tsunamis, etc 'get away with it' because they're not people and this can't be held accountable, nor are they 'evil'. They simply are.
"Adapt or doe" seems rough for people, but in the natural world, that's how it works. It's not good or bad. It just is.
But overall, people do su*k and do terrible things to other living things for no good reason. Unfortunately, that seems human nature. We almost have to fight to prevent ourselves from falling in to those more 'basic' levels of living.

I want to hold everyone and everything accountable e.g. viruses, earthquakes, cyclones, bacteria, fungi, cows, lions, humans, gorillas, trees, atoms, photons, quarks, gods (if they exist), etc. No one and nothing should get away with doing any harm to anyone and anything. There must be perfect fairness to existence. At least, that's what I want. I won't get such a fair world because I am not all-knowing and all-powerful. I expect to suffer and die - just like all the other sentient biological organisms. We are all doomed. Only three things are guaranteed for sentient biological organisms - suffering, unfairness and death.

While I appreciate your POV, it seems to be quite difficult to achieve (impossible?) which would lead to a lot of pressure on you.
Which seems a very hard and unnecessary thing to work through.
But if it works for you......

[Dimmesdale]

Both. It's a complex mixed bag.

Religions on the positive side give meaning, purpose, structure, community, identity, and a host of other very positive things.....

On the other hand, religion, or the corruption of true religion, however you want to look at it, at least potentially holds a great many ills: hypocrisy, corruption, superstition, the closing of the inquiring mind, child abuse, you name it.

A wise person has to sort these things out, keeping the good while simultaneously dispensing with the bad as much as possible.

And for every person, that process is to some extent different.